Download Your Electromagnetic Safety Blanket

Your Electromagnetic Safety Blanket
or
Not!
Wes Lemstra
Engr 302
Spring 2002
What is EMF?
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Kudos to Troy for already explaining so well.
However…
Let me try again.
What is EMF?
Duh!! We just
did a whole
course on that…
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
Electro Magnetic Fields
They include
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electric fields generated
by charged particles
magnetic fields
generated by charged
particles in motion
radiated fields such as
TV, radio, and
microwaves.
Are EMFs Harmful to Humans?
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A little biology
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iron is nessasary in that that it plays a large role in
energy metabolism and in the production of red
blood cells (erythropoesis)
Iron is a transition metal and takes part in redox
processes

EX. reduction by an organic substrate and reoxidation
by oxygen
Are EMFs Harmful to Humans?

More biology
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two thirds of the body's iron is in the pigment
haemoglobin
Pigment haemoglobin transports oxygen in red
blood cells
On average, an adult male has 1000 mg of iron in
storage.
Are EMFs Harmful to Humans?
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Iron in our blood is highly effected by EMF
The permeability of the cell membrane of our
nerves, blood vessels, skin, and other organs
is effected.
The DNA of the chromosomes has been
shown to be effected by EMFs as well.
How much is too much?
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Sweden has imposed a safety limit for
exposure to ELF (Extremely Low Frequency,
6.67 Hz and lower) magnetic fields at 2.5 mG,
and VLF magnetic fields at only 0.25 mG
U.S. has no set limit, but most people use
Sweden’s limits
An average hairdryer, vacuum cleaner, or can
opener emits approximately 300 mG .
Too much EMF?
•Important to note is the
amount of time in proximity
to the electric field is a very
important factor.
•12 hours near a 80 mG
poweline is more
dangerous than a 3 minute
exposure to a 1000 mG
microwave
Are EMF’s a problem?
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Three recent studies indicate that it is.
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epidemiological studies in Sweden by Maria
Feychting showed that individuals exposed to high
magnetic fields at home and at work had 3.7 times
the risk of developing leukemia compared to
those not exposed.
recent research reports have identified elevated
risks of breast cancer among women working in
jobs with presumed higher than average exposure
to EMFs.
What about Electric Blankets?
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Electric blankets create a magnetic field that
penetrates about 6-7 inches into the body.
an epidemiological study has linked electric
blankets with miscarriages and childhood
leukemia
The magnetic field for those who sleep under
an 120 vac electric blanket are up to 100 mG
What about Electric Blankets?
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The reason there is no law against use of
electric blankets is that there is no real proof
one way or another
I would submit that we should ere on the side
of caution rather than on the side of
economics
Questions?